Mixed Results from this weekend of thoroughbred racing at Northlands

Although
year to date wagering results remain ahead of last year, the handle for
Saturday May 28 where four (4) $50,000 Stake races were offered did not meet
expectations.

For
the first ten (10) days of the 2016 meet, total wagering on the live product
amountedto $2,608,645 ($260,865/day) compared to $2,377,581 ($237,758/day) in
2015. The upward trend continues, albeit at a slower place, as we are now up $231,064 or nearly 10% compared to last
year.

The
Stake races featured on the May 28 card included The Wild Rose and The
Journal for older horses and The
Chariot Chaser & Western Canada for Three year olds.Long time HBPA Director and Association past
President Don Danard must be
wondering “how easy is this” as his Red
Diamond Stable captured both ends of the 3 yo. Stakes with C U
at Eau Claire and Reason for Being basicallywinning under wraps.Saturday
could be considered HBPA day as yet another Director and managing partner of
the Thoroughbred Racing Club – Curtis
Landry picked up the $30,000 winner’s share of the Wild Rose when Eustacia just hung on to get all the
money.With no reigning Horse of the
Year Killin Me Smalls in the Journal field, Blue Dancer had it much his own way and cruised winning by some 3 ½
lengths.

Wagering
for the Saturday card was not robust which can be partly attributed to short
fields in the majority of the races carded.Only Win and Exacta wagering was offered on the Journal where only a
field of four (4) went to the post.We
have always contended that in order to attract wagering from on track customers
and outside jurisdictions, full and competitive field are a requirement.Hopefully the recent trend with relatively
small fields will reverse itself to offer customers a viable alternative to the
many choices available to deploy their funds.

This and That

Word is that for the first time in a long
while a very strong Jockey colony is currently residing at Northlands.When word came down early in the year that
changes to the Canadian Immigration rules and regulations would make it most
difficult to obtain work permits for foreign freelance Jockeys, the HBPA
stepped up to the plate and with the help of its top notch Immigration counsel,
was successful in obtaining the required work permits forsixteen
(16) foreign riders.Super-agent Bob Fowlis assures us that Keishan Balgobin will be taking calls
for this weekend’s cards and the very popular AnastasiosChalaris has
now received the required paperwork to commence riding.

The HBPA congratulates all the 2015 thoroughbred
equine and people Award winners announced at the May 28, 2016 Night of
Champions. All winners have been acknowledged in other posts and publications.However, there are a couple of interesting
tidbits that many may not be aware of.Sources advise us that an interest has been purchased by certain
southern Alberta Horsemen in the 3 year old Destin winner of the Sam Davis and Tampa Bay Derby as well as
recording very respectable 6th in this year’s Ky. Derby.His next scheduled dance is the June 11 Belmont
Stakes.There is a further connection
here to the Alberta winner of the 2yo colt Division - Awesome Slate who ran 4th to Destin beaten 6 lengths in
the Sam Davis run at Tampa in February.Not often does an Alberta horse come within 6 lengths of one of the
better 3 yos in North America.

Copyright 2011 The Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association of Alberta